Former Tibetan political prisoner Golog Jigme meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on July 26, 2018 at the U.S. Department of State, in Washington, D.C. Photo: TPI

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Ulan Batar, Mongolia: After successfully concluding nearly two week series of Buddhist teachings in Japan, the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in the Mongolian capital on Monday (7th November) for a three-day lecture and teaching tour at a invitation of a Buddhist followers.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama was received at the airport by the chief abbot of the Gaden Theckchen Choeling monastery and other officials of the monastery. Mongolia is a majority Buddhist country with strong traditional ties to Tibet. Thousands of people have turned out to greet His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his every visit to Mongolia since 2006.

Gaden Theckchen Choeling monastery houses more than 1000 monks and it has many smaller branches all across Mongolia. More than 400 monks from the monastery is currently studying at the Drepung Gomang and Sera Jey monastery in South India.

The chief administrator of the Kalmyk Buddhist Association, Telo Rinpoche, stated that the main purpose of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to Mongolia this time is to give a teaching on "In Praise of Dependent Origination"(Tendrel- Toepa) and "the three principles paths of liberation" (Lam-tso nam sum). He also stated that His Holiness will addressing a group of university students at Ulan Batar.

China on Tuesday expressed its routine disappointment at Mongolia for allowing His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit. "We have always opposed any country providing a platform for the Dalai Lama to engage in activities to split China in any form," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a regular press briefing on Tuesday.

However, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate's planned talk on Tuesday at the Mongolian capital's Buyant-Ukhaa sports complex. Ven. Choijamtsa, the head monk at Mongolia's Gandan-Tegchilen monastery, which is organising the visit, told Reuters that organisers remained determined to go ahead with the planned lectures. "This is Mongolian territory and Mongolian property and we are going to do it even if others oppose it," he said.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama had recently made his views toward China clear as well. His Holiness criticized China's "ruthless policy" for the recent crisis in eastern regions of Tibet, where at least 11 Tibetans, including two Buddhist nuns set themselves on fire in protest of Chinese repression.

Later Tuesday, the Buddhist followers touched the chair on which he sat to deliver his speech, which focused on education of the new generations of Mongolia. His Holiness spoke in Tibetan as the faithful thousands listened quietly to the Mongolian translation. At one point, His Holiness raised his hand and hundreds of others shot up to wave in response.

"I am really happy that I came here because if I can see him, everything will be good. Because he is the compassion Buddha, my wishes will come true. I came to see him last time that he came in 2006," said one elderly woman straining to catch a glimpse. "I am so happy he has come. People have come to receive blessings from His Holiness. They have come even from the countryside. This is a great occasion for us," said another onlooker. "Because we are Buddhists, we believe that when we see His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we have seen a living Buddha. That brings peace and joy in our minds," said Munkhochir, 21, a monk at a monastery in Ulaanbaatar.